Story Highlights

John Abraham was depressed, and this time the Hennessy and Coke wasn't working. That was his drink of choice, and a couple three-rock glasses of the stuff normally did the trick.

But Abraham couldn't take the edge off, not on this particular day 10 years ago when he was a young rising star for the New York Jets.

Never mind that the pass rusher had been named to a second Pro Bowl in his first three years — he added another a year later — or that he was coming off two seasons in which he registered 13 and 10 sacks, respectively.

"When I was in New York, I was away from home and I went through a lot of bad things there," said Abraham, who was born in Timmonsville, S.C., and was a first-round pick of the Jets in 2000.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Josh Bellamy (8) is congratulated by tight end Kevin Brock (46) during the second half of the game against the Green Bay Packers at Arrowhead Stadium.
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New York Jets tight end Konrad Reuland (88) fumbles after being hit by Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Emmanuel Acho (53) during the first half of a preseason game at Metlife Stadium.
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San Diego Chargers running back Ryan Mathews (24) leaps towards the end zone prior to scoring a touchdown in the first quarter against the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason game at University of Phoenix Stadium.
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Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) is tackled by San Diego Chargers cornerback Marcus Gilchrist (38) in the second quarter during a preseason game at University of Phoenix Stadium.
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New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith (7) scrambles in his own end zone out of bounds against the New York Giants during the second quarter of a preseason game at MetLife Stadium.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Brian Leonard (30) is stopped at the one yard line by Miami Dolphins inside linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (59) in the first quarter at Sun Life Stadium.
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New England Patriots tight end Zach Sudfeld (44) celebrates a two point conversion with wide receiver Josh Boyce (82) during the first quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Gillette Stadium.
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New York Jets tight end Jeff Cumberland (87) celebrates with Mark Sanchez (6) after catching a pass for a touchdown in the first quarter of a preseason game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.
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Detroit Lions wide receiver Matt Willis (12) catches a pass in the end zone for a touchdown while being defended by New York Jets running back Chad Spann (30) in the second quarter of a preseason game at Ford Field.
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New England Patriots running back Shane Vereen (34) makes a touchdown catch against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half of a preseason game at Lincoln Financial Field.
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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) scrambles out of the pocket for a short gain during the first half against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium.
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Dallas Cowboys running back Phillip Tanner (34) runs with the ball after losing his helmet in the second quarter of the 2013 Pro Football Hall of Fame game against the Miami Dolphins at Fawcett Stadium.
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Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) is sacked by Dallas Cowboys defensive end Ben Bass (79) in the first quarter of the 2013 Pro Football Hall of Fame game at Fawcett Stadium.
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"I was going through my DUI, which I can talk about openly, and a lot of other different things that I felt were bringing me down. All the different coaches, certain people, the business part of football, the ups and downs of life."

Abraham was wandering around the streets of New York, feeling down and out, when he stumbled into a book store for no apparent reason.

He still isn't sure what compelled him, "but I just started finding all these self-help books," he said, "and one of the first ones I picked up and started reading was a leadership book by John C. Maxwell.

"It was just by chance, I guess, that it happened to be him, but I was reading that book, and it really started getting to me. So I started reading more books and more books and more books.

"I couldn't put 'em down."

Abraham found peace and a greater sense of self-worth in every page. The words spoke volumes to him on various issues, from being a better man, a more humble man, and a more appreciative man who is willing to help others.

The books and their teachings have stuck with him over the years and remain a focal point in his life, even today as a 35-year-old member of the Arizona Cardinals, with whom he signed a two-year, free-agent contract at the start of training camp.

When he's not outmaneuvering offensive linemen in camp with his array of savvy pass-rushing moves, he's teaching younger players the ins-and-outs of life in the NFL. Usually, it's out of sight from the media, though.

He's had several private talks with defensive end Calais Campbell, a good player Abraham wants to see become great. He's also become a mentor to left tackle Levi Brown, who has been forced to compete for a starting spot for the first time in his career.

And surely, there will be long discussions with rookie free safety Tyrann Mathieu, the "Honey Badger."

"What he's doing for some of us is just awesome, it's amazing," Campbell said. "The insight, the knowledge that he has, it's second to none. And sometimes you need to hear things from a player instead of a coach because coaches, they nag a little bit sometimes."

Abraham, the NFL's active sack leader (122) — he needs 20 more to move into fifth place on the all-time list — did his share of nagging upon being cut by the Atlanta Falcons this offseason.

It was a question of money and his age, though they couldn't argue it was his production. In the past three seasons alone, the four-time Pro Bowler registered 13, 9½ and 10 sacks, respectively.

"If I didn't feel like I could still play," he says, "I'd have called it quits. I did actually tweet my retirement at one point because I was so pissed off about the situation, but then I recanted. It was more just frustration."

Cardinals General Manager Steve Keim said Abraham gives Arizona something it hasn't had in forever — a legitimate sack monster.

"Sometimes when you study a 35-year-old on tape, he looks likes a 35-year-old," Keim said. "For whatever reason — I don't know if they put this guy in wax or what — but this guy can still get off the rock. He had 10 sacks last year, seven forced fumbles and his get-off to this day is still like I remember it back when I scouted him at South Carolina."

Abraham didn't party or go out much back in college, but he got his fill — and then some — upon arriving in New York. The nightlife of the big city consumed him.

"I probably should have been a little more focused," he says now, "but when you get that first big paycheck, you don't know how to act. You want to party. Back in college, it was all about just getting to the NFL.

"When I got to the NFL, it was my time to relax a little bit. You know, I had to go out and get to know myself."

In October 2003, after too much Hennessy and Coke, he crashed his sports utility vehicle into a fire hydrant and light pole. He pled guilty to driving while impaired and avoided jail time, but it was a costly lesson.

"I'm not going through that stuff again. It's a bigger headache than it's worth," he said. "I got mine one time, and one time is enough. It's brought more pain than it did anything else. That one night of partying wasn't worth all the things I had to go through."

Abraham no longer drinks and drives, but he will tell you straight that he still likes his Hennessy and Coke.

"I'm 35 years old, I ain't going to lie," he said. "Yeah, I still drink. I still go out and have a good time. I don't do drugs at all, but I won't say I don't drink.

"I'm not doing it now — not during camp — but when friends come to town, I'll go out. It's a controlled habit. It's not that I have a problem. I know guys who have a problem. My dad was an alcoholic, and I know alcoholics."

Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles knew Abraham back in 2000, when Abraham was a rookie and Bowles a defensive backs coach for the Jets.

"He was a heck of a talent then, too," Bowles said, adding: "If you've been in the league very long and had some success, you have to go through trial and error as far as on and off the field. I think he's survived.

"He's played 13 years and he's still got something left in the tank."

Abraham feels he is capable of reaching double-digit sack totals this season and next, which would place him ahead of Michael Strahan (141½ career sacks) and into fifth place on the all-time list.

That just might earn him a bust in Canton, Ohio, as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

"I'm not a person you're going to see on TV or doing commercials or stuff like that," Abraham said, "but if you look at my numbers, I've always been productive. And I missed over 30 games early on, and that's two years of my career. If I had those two years back, you'd never know what I'd have.

"Hey, the Hall of Fame is a lot of motivation. I do want to win a championship, but I do have some personal goals I want to match, and being in the Hall of Fame is one of them."